Miniature rose variety &#39;Poulmona&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new miniature rose which has large, deep pink flowers and attractive foliage. The variety successfully propagates from softwood cuttings and is suitable for year round production in commercial glasshouses. This new and distinct variety has shown to be uniform and stable in the resulting generations from asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present discovery constitutes a new and distinct variety of a miniature pot rose plant which was discovered in a cultivated area. The mutation resulted from ‘POULsabel’, a miniature pot rose hybridized by the same inventors. ‘POULsabel’ is described and illustrated in U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 09/607,333, dated 30 Jun., 2000. The new rose variety resulted from a naturally occurring mutation of unknown causation on a branch of ‘POULsabel’.

[0002] The rose plant of the present discovery has a unique combination of characteristics which are outstanding in the new variety and which distinguish it from the original rose ‘POULsabel’ as well as all other varieties which we are aware of. For example, the new variety has:

[0003] 1. Uniform and large flowers for a miniature rose;

[0004] 2. Vigorous and compact growth;

[0005] 3. Year-round flowering under glasshouse conditions;

[0006] 4. Suitability for production from softwood cuttings in pots;

[0007] 5. Durable flowers and foliage which make a variety suitable for distribution in the floral industry.

[0008] This combination of qualities is not present in previously available commercial cultivars of this type and distinguish ‘POULmona’ from all other varieties of which we are aware.

[0009] The resulting mutation was selected and evaluations were conducted on the resulting rose plants in a controlled environment.

[0010] Asexual reproduction of ‘POULmona’ by cuttings and traditional budding was first done by L. Pernille and Mogens N. Olesen in their nursery in Fredensborg, Denmark in June of 1998 at their nursery in Fredensborg, Denmark. This initial and other subsequent propagations conducted in controlled environments have demonstrated that the characteristics of ‘POULmona’ are true to type and are transmitted from one generation to the next.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0011] The accompanying color illustration shows as true as is reasonably possible to obtain in color photographs of this type, the typical characteristics of the buds, flowers, leaves, and stems of ‘POULmona’.

[0012] Specifically illustrated in SHEET 1 include ‘POULmona’s' foliage, flower buds, partially opened buds, and numerous open blooms.

[0013] Specifically illustrated in SHEET 2 are three blooms at different stages of opening.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

[0014] The following is a description of ‘POULmona’, as observed in its growth in Half Moon Bay, Calif. Color references are made using The Royal Horticultural Society (London, England) Colour Chart, 1995, except where common terms of color are used.

[0015] For a comparison, several physical characteristics of the rose variety ‘POULsabel’, a rose variety from the same inventors described and illustrated in U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 09/607,333 , dated 30 Jun., 2000, are compared to ‘POULmona’ in Chart 1. CHART 1 ‘POULmona’ ‘POULsabel’ Bud Color at Red-Purple Group 58 Red Group ¼ open. B and C. 45A. Upper Petal Red-Purple Group Red Group Surface, Open 44B. Bloom. Petalage 25 to 30 petals. 30 to 35 petals. Parents: Sport of Miniature Rose Variety ‘POULsabel’ Classification: Rosa Hybrida Botanical: Rosa hybrida. Commercial: Miniature.

FLOWER AND FLOWER BUD

[0016] Blooming habit: Recurrent/continuous. Flower bud: Size: Upon opening, 35 mm in length from base of receptacle to end of bud. Bud form: Pointed ovoid. Bud color: As sepals unfold, upper surface of sepals is Red- Purple Group 58 B and C; lower surface is Red-Purple Group 58 B and C. At ¼ opening, upper surface of sepals is Red-Purple Group 58 B and C; Red-Purple Group 58 B and C. Sepals: Upper surface: Yellow-Green Group 144A. Lower surface: Green Group 138B. Weak foliaceous appendages on three of the five sepals. Surfaces of sepals slightly pubescent. Stipitate glands present on sepal margins. Shape: Sepal apex is cirrose. Base is flat at union with peduncle. Size: 25 to 30 mm long × 10 to 12 mm wide. Receptacle: Surface: Smooth. Shape: Funnel shaped. Size: 8 mm (h) × 7 mm (w). Color: Yellow-Green Group 144A. Peduncle: Surface: Many fragrant stipitate glands present. Length: 40 to 50 mm average length. Color: Yellow-Green Group 144A. Strength: Strong. Borne: Singly.

[0017] Flower bloom: Fragrance: None. Duration: As a pot plant, flowers last from 5 to 7 days. Size: Medium for a 12 cm pot rose. Average flower diameter is 40 mm when open. Form: Shape of flower when viewed from the side: Upon opening, upper part: Cupped. Upon opening, lower part: Convex. Open flower, upper part: Convex. Open flower, lower part: Flattened convex. Petalage: Average range: 25 to 30 petals under normal conditions with 4 to 6 petaloids.

[0018] Color: Upon opening, petals: Outermost petals: Outer Side: Red-Purple Group 58B at margins, graduating to Red- Purple Group 58 C and D in middle zone. Inner Side: Red-Purple Group 58B at margins, graduating to Red- Purple Group 58 C and D in middle zone. Innermost petals: Outer Side: Red-Purple Group 58B at margins, graduating to Red- Purple Group 58 C and D in middle zone. Inner Side: Red-Purple Group 58B at margins, graduating to Red- Purple Group 58 C and D in middle zone. Upon opening, basal petal spots: Outermost petals: Outer Side: Green-Yellow Group 1C. Inner Side: Green-Yellow Group 1C. Innermost petals: Outer Side: Green-Yellow Group 1C. Inner Side: Green-Yellow Group 1C. After opening, petals: Outermost petals: Outer Side: Red-Purple Group 58C. Inner Side: Red-Purple Group 58C. Innermost petals: Outer Side: Red-Purple Group 58C. Inner Side: Red-Purple Group 58C. After opening, basal petal spots: No distinctive coloration at petal base observed. Outermost petals: Outer Side: Green-Yellow Group 1C. Inner Side: Green-Yellow Group 1C. Innermost petals: Outer Side: Green-Yellow Group 1C. Inner Side: Green-Yellow Group 1C. General Tonality: On open flower Red-Purple Group 58B. No change in the general tonality at the end of the 5th day. Afterwards, general tonality is Red- Purple Group 58C.

[0019] Petals: Petal Reflex: Petals reflex strongly. Petal Edge: Entire, with notch in center of margin. Shape: Deltoid. Petaloids: Quantity: 4 to 6. Size: 10 to 12 mm long; 4 to 6 mm wide. Color: Upper side is Red- Purple Group 58B and C. Lower side is Red- Purple Group 58 B. Thickness: Average. Arrangement: Imbricated.

[0020] Reproductive organs: Pollen: Color: Yellow-Orange Group 15A. Quantity: Scant. Anthers: Size: 2 mm long. Color: Yellow Group 11D. Quantity: Approximately 40. Filaments: Color: Yellow Group 10A. Length: 3 to 4 mm. Stigmas: Slightly superior in location to anthers. Color: Greyed-Yellow Group 160D. Styles: Color: Greyed-Yellow Group 160D, with intonations of Greyed-Green Group 193B. Seed formation: Hips: Not observed. PLANT Plant growth: Vigorous, compact, upright to bushy. When grown as a 12 cm pot plant, the average height of the plant itself is 30 cm and the average width is 35 cm. Stems: Color: Young wood: yellow-Green Group 144B. Older wood: Yellow-Green Group 144A. Prickles: Incidence: 6 to 8 thorns per 10 cm of stem. Size: Average length: 4 mm. Color: Greyed-Red Group 181B. Shape: Linear. Surface: Young wood: Smooth. Older wood: Smooth. Plant foliage: Normal number of leaflets on normal leaves in middle of the stem: 5 leaflets. Leaf size: 90 mm (l) × 75 mm (w). Color: Upper Leaf Surface: Green Group 139A. Lower Leaf Surface: Green Group 139B. Juvenile foliage: Upper Leaf Surface: Yellow-Green Group 144A and B Lower Leaf Surface: Yellow-Green Group 144B. Anthocyanin intonation: Location: Margin of upper surface and all of lower surface exhibit anthocyanin coloration of Greyed-Red Group 181A. Plant leaves and leaflets: Stipules: Size: 4 mm. Color: Yellow-Green Group 145A. On plants grown under high light conditions, peduncle may exhibit intonations of Greyed-Red Group 181A. Stipitate glands: Present on edges of stipules. Anthocyanin: Greyed-Red Group 181A. Petiole: Length: 18 mm. Color: Yellow-Green Group 147A. Underneath: Yellow-Green 144A; one thorn present. Margins: Yellow-Green Group 144A. Anthocyanin: None noted. Rachis: Color: Green Group Underneath: Yellow-Green 144A; one thorn present. Margins: Yellow-Green Group 144A. Anthocyanin: Leaflet: Edge: Serrated. Shape: Ovate. Texture: Glossy and thick. Arrangement: Odd pinnate. Venation: Reticulate. Disease resistance: Average resistance to mildew, black spot, and Botrytis under normal growing conditions in Jackson County, Oregon. Cold hardiness: ‘POULmona’ has been found to be resistant to damage from cold in USDA Zone 7. 

1. A new and distinct variety of rose of the miniature class, substantially as herein illustrated and described as a distinct and novel rose variety due to its abundant, red flowers, vigorous growth, compact habit, suitability for production from softwood cuttings in pots, and durable flowers and foliage which make the variety suitable for distribution in the floral industry. 